Bellflower Tutors Come To You

About twenty miles southeast from downtown Los Angeles, Bellflower, California is considered a “Gateway City” linking Los Angeles, Orange County and the Pacific Ocean. Originally part of the Mexican land grant Rancho Los Nietos, the area which is now Bellflower later became Rancho Los Cerritos (Ranch of the Little Hills) when Manuel Nieto died and left the land to his daughter Maria. In the early 19th century the rancho economy was based on cattle, and beef was cheaper than salt for many years. As the old rancho lifestyle faded in the 1840’s, farmers moved onto the land, planting a variety of crops including grapes, citrus and apples in the rich soil created by the continual flooding of the San Gabriel River. In fact, the name Bellflower comes from the belle-fleur apple which was widely grown in orchards beginning in the late 19th century. Dutch and Portuguese dairy farmers also established themselves in Bellflower and nearby Cerritos, making the area one of the leading milk producing regions in the United States. For a time, Cerritos was known as “Dairy Valley.” In 1902, the Pacific Electric Railway expanded south connecting residents with markets and jobs in Los Angeles. This mobility led to a tremendous increase in property values, especially after World War II when Bellflower became primarily a residential suburb of Los Angeles. Today, Bellflower has a diverse population with significant numbers of Whites, Latinos and Asian-Americans.

A Bellflower tutor will keep you ahead of the academic curve so you can take some time away from the books to enjoy the exciting things to do in Bellflower and the greater Los Angeles region. For those who like to chase fire trucks, the Los Angeles County Fire Museum in Bellflower provides a showcase for a large collection of antique fire engines, some dating back to the 1860’s. The museum offers vintage firefighting equipment, photographs, uniforms, badges and helmets. The museum also features the “Hero’s Hydrant,” a fire hydrant saved from the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Bellflower is home to Hollywood Sports Park which features one of the most elaborate paintball parks in the United States. Paintball is tag or dodge ball with a militaristic twist. The paintball fields are based on popular Hollywood movie sets such as Starship Troopers, Saving Private Ryan and Godzilla. The 28-acre facility also has spongeball, soccer, beach volleyball and a rock climbing wall. For younger visitors, “PaintballSoft4kids” uses the newest and lightest paintball equipment designed particularly for children.

It’s just a short drive south from Bellflower to Long Beach Harbor where visitors can take a tour of the famous Queen Mary, built at a time when ocean liners were the primary way to travel overseas. The Queen Mary’s interior has been restored so that it looks much as it did when it embarked on its maiden voyage in 1936. Long Beach is also the embarkation point for Santa Catalina Island, originally owned by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley. Catalina offers a wide variety of activities and attractions. The island’s circular, art deco Casino has a large dance floor and movie theater. Descanso Beach features cabanas, a restaurant and kayaking.